Locking device for automobiles.



J. J. MEYER.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIOATION IILBD DEC. 31, 1913.

1,098,954,v Patented June 2, 1914,

lyl/EnlroR 07272 Jilieyeg ,4 TTOR/VEYS JOHN J. MEYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed December 81, 1913. Serial No. 809,684.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Lockin Device for Automobiles, of which the foll owing is a full, clear, and exact descri tion.

'1 1e obicct of the invention is to provide a new and improved locking device for automobiles to prevent theft thereof by preventing unauthorized persons from running the automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple locking device which can be readily carried about and easily applied even in the dark.

In order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a we ge-shaped key adapted to render the releasing lever ino crative, and a lock for holdin the plug a must removal.

A practical em odiment o the invention is represented in the accompan ing drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar ciaracters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the wedge-shaped key on the line 11 of Fig. 2 and as applied between the handle of the releasing lever and the brake lever; Fig. 2 is an ed e view of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the wedge-shaped key; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the key as applied between the handle of the bra e lever and the handle of the releasin lever; Fig. 5 is a pers ctive view of the loc ring device as applie for holding the cranking lever against movement 5 and ig. 6 is a rspective view of a simplified form of the icy.

Prior to leaving an automobile standing unattended in a public place, it is customary to apply the brake b the use of the emergency brake lever. n order to prevent the release of the brake by an unauthorized person use is made of a locking device, preferably applied to the said emergency brake lever and its release lever to prevent the emergeuc brake lever from bein manipulated witi a view to release the rake.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the emergency brake lever A is provided with a release lever B controlling the usual mechanism for locking the emergency brake lever A in whatever position it is moved into, and this release lever B is normally held in locking series of apertures position by the action of a spring G secured at one end to the handle B of the release lever B and pressing with its free end on the base of the handle A of the emergency brake lever A. Into the s ace between the handle B and the sprin is inserted a key D in the form of a we go, which )revents movement of the handle B tower the handle A thus preventing an unauthorized person from actuating the emergency brake lever A after the brake has been set. The key D is provided with tapering sides for conveniently insertin the key into the space between the handle B and the spring C, and the said key is wedge-sha ed in a transverse direction to readily conihrm to the space between the handle B and the spring C, and the key D is wedge-shaped in a lengthwise direction so as to readily pass into the s ace between the handle B and the spring until the s ace is com letely filled by the key and the res end of t e spring C is held from movin away from the base of the handle A. he base end of the key D is provided with a head D adapted to rest ainst one side of the handle B and the or end of the key D is provided with a any one of which is adapted to be engaged by a lock E of any approved construction so as to prevent withdrawal of the key D from its position between the handle B and the spring 0, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig; 2. The lower edge of the key D is prefera ly somewhat enlarged to fit between the under side of the base A of the handle A and the upper edge of the fulcrum end of the releasing lever B so that the latter cannot be moved into releasing position even if the spring is omitted or broken ofi. It is understood that when the key is inserted pressure is exerted in both an u ward and a downward direction on the hen le base A and the releasing lever B. At the to of the head D is secured one end of a e ain F rovided at its other end with a large link adapted to slip over the small end of the wed e-shaped key D to a point beyond one of tie a ortures D" to permit of ap lyin the lock after the link F is engaged wit 1 the key, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The chain F forms an additional retaining device to prevent removal of the key from its osition between the handles A and B. he key D is provided in its flat face with a lengthwise-extending recess or groove D into which fits the bent free end of the spring C, and on the base of the; key D is secured one end of a shield D overlying the s ring so as 'to protect the same and there y prevent an unauthorizedperson from breaking ofl the spring and removing the key D by slippin the same upward over the handle B The shield D is shown omitted in the key illustrated in Fig.- G,'otherwise the key shown in 'this figure 1s the same as above described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 4,'the key D may be used in a different manner for holdin the handle B against movement toward the handle A and in this case the key is ap- )llGCl while in a vertical position with tie head 1) extending between the handles 13 and A. The head D is provided with side- 'wise projecting lugs D adapted to rest a ainst the handles 13, A at the back thereoi, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, it being understood that in this case'the lock E is applied to the lowermost aperture D so as to extend under the lever B and thus revent the key D from being removed un es the lock E is first unlocked and detached from the key D. The bolt of the lock E may be engaged with the uppermost aperture D and the 'bolt assed through the s ace between the hand 0 B and the spring j as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The'loc'kin device'may be used for looking the handle G of the cranking device against movement to'prevent starting of the motor by an unauthorized person. It will be noticed that inthis case the chain F is passed aroundthe front transverse beam H of the chassis of the automobile, and the key D is held against one side of the handle G while the chain F is passed around the other side of the handle and its link F is slipped onto the key D, after which the lock E is applied to hold the chain F in lockin position thus preventing an unauthorize person from turning the handle G. It will also be noticed that the chain F is drawn tight around the handle G after the latter is pushed into engagement with the motor shaft to prevent starting of the motor especially when the automobile is on a down grade. The series of holes D allow of locking the chain F when drawn taut as described thus providing means for any variations in the structure.

It will be noticed that the locking device shown and described is very simple and can be readily carried about by the attendant of the automobile, and the locking device can be quickly slipped into position to lock the parts against being manipulated as above explained, so that an unauthorized person cannot actuate the locked parts. It will also be noticed'that the locking device when applied isvery inconspicuous and is hence not easily detected by unauthorized persons.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a control lover, a releasing lever fulcrumed on the control lever, a spring interposed between the said levers to hold the releasing lever normally in nonreleased position, a key inserted between the said releasin lever and its spring, and means for locking the said key in place.

'2. In a'locking device for automobiles, the combination of a control lever, a releasing lever fulcrumed on the control lever, a spring inter osedbetwcen the said lovers to hold the re easing lever normally in nonreleased position, a key 'inscrted'bctween the said releasinglever and its spring, the key bein -provided a't'one-endwith ahead, and a 100' con the other'end of the said'key.

3. In a locking device for automobiles,

the combinationof'a'control lever, a'releasing lever, a spring interposed between the levers to hold the releasing lever normally in non-released position, a key inserted be- 'twcenthe said releasing'lever-and its spring to hold the spring in contact with the controllever, and a lock on-the outer end of the said key.

4. In a locking device for automobiles, the combination-of a eontrollever'havin a release lever and a s ring interposed between the leversto ho d -'the 'rele'asin lever normally innon-relea'sed positi'on,-'o a key inserted'between the said'releasing lever and its spring to hold the spring in contact with the control lover, a shield on the said key and overlyin the said spring, and a lock on "the outer en 'ofthe' said key.

5. In a locking device for automobiles, the combination'of a control lever, a releasing'leve'r, a spring interposed between the levers to hold the releasing 'lever normally in non-released position, a key inserted between-the said releasing lever and its spring -'to'h0ldthe spring in contact with the control lever, the face of-'-the key having a lengthwise extending recess into which fitsthe free end of thee ring, and a lock on the outer 'end'of the said key.

A lockingldevice for automobiles, comprlsmg a key aving ta ering sides and bemg wedge-shaped in t c direction of its lengthand width, the face of the key being 'provided'with a recess extending lengthwise of the'key and a lock'removably engaging the small end of the said key.

A lockin device for automobiles, comprising a key aving tapering sides and bemg wedge-she ed in the direction of its length and wi th, a shield in the form of a protecting plate secured at one end to the ase end of the key and spaced from the face of the key, one side of the plate rojecting beyond the corresponding side 0? the key, and a lock removably engaging the small end of the said key.

8. A lockingldevice for automobiles, com prising a key1 aving tapering sides and being wedge-s aped 1n the directionof its length and width, a chain secured at one end to the base of thekey and having at its other 0 end a link adapted to slip over the small two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN J. MEYER.

Witnesses:

THEo. G. Hos/ran, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

